The vitriol and abuse hurled at opponents of Scottish independence are only
the start of what looks like becoming an increasingly ugly campaign

Intimidation, lies, hooliganism and vandalism. With now under three weeks to go before D (for Decision) Day on Scotland's future are these now to be the campaign tactics of the nationalists?

It certainly appears so. "Stuff and nonsense", was Alex Salmond's reaction to our story yesterday that over one hundred Scottish businessmen had declined to sign a letter questioning the benefits of independence because they were fearful of the "consequences" in a Nat dominated Scotland.

But, as Mandy Rice-Davies once said, in admittedly different circumstances, "He would say that, wouldn't he?"

Serious businessmen, already accused of "prostituting" themselves by one Nat opponent, have expressed genuine concern about seeing planning applications rejected and even a merger opposed by the SNP at local and national level if they dared to doubt the wondrous nature of Wee Eck's independent nirvana.

But all one hundred of them are making it up; that is Mr Salmond's stock reaction.

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Then yesterday we had a pillar of the Nat-supporting Business for Scotland organisation claiming on Radio 4's Today programme that Scottish firms are charged a fee by British embassies when promoting their products in foreign lands, whereas English firms are charged nothing.

The presenter couldn't believe his ears when he heard this from Sandy Adam, a Moray house-builder, and asked him to repeat it. Nothing abashed by the ludicrous nature of his claim Mr Adam duly did say it again – three times. It is completely untrue; in fact a bare-faced lie.

And Western Isles MP Angus Brendan MacNeil got in on the act when he asserted, without a single bit of evidence, that a No vote would see Scotland thrown out of international football. Complete nonsense and presumably another bit of "post-ceilidh foolishness" from Mr MacNeil.

But the Nats are not simply content to lie their way to the Sept 18 ballot boxes, they're also in no way averse to stopping their opponents having their say in this debate.

Jim Murphy, the former Scottish secretary, was pelted with eggs yesterday in Kirkcaldy, a day after he was howled down and subjected to a torrent of abuse by an angry Nat crowd in Dundee.

The vitriol was astonishing even by the lively standards of that argumentative city but fortunately for those who still need a reason not to vote Yes it was videoed so that voters can see for themselves what it's like to oppose the Nats in some parts of Scotland. See for yourself.

Murphy wasn't the only one to be on the receiving end of separatist abuse yesterday. Another former Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander, was called a 'f------ liar' during a Radio Scotland phone-in.

In addition, all over the country there are examples of anti-separatist posters being damaged, defaced with the word "Scum" often scrawled across them, or simply torn down – usually at dead of night and always when nobody's looking. It is criminal damage, pure and simple, but unless I've missed them there have been no arrests and nor do I expect any.

There is much havering in many quarters at present about how this independence debate is a mature and thoughtful one and a credit to Scotland. It isn't and I expect things to get much, much worse.